Throne of Darkness

Familiarity breeds contentment in this sure-footed historical fantasy set in 1215 England, the third (following Something Red and The Wicked) featuring the traveling troupe of Mistress Molly, aka the exiled Irish Queen Maeve. Entangled in the war between King John Lackland and his barons, Molly and her granddaughter, Nemain, bargain with a shadowy agent of the pope, who fears the king’s imported Imazighen (Berber) sorcerer and his were-hyenas. Also standing with Molly are her lover, ex-Crusader Jack Brown, a shapeshifter who must struggle against the sorcerer’s affinity with “turnskins”; and Hob, Nemain’s husband and a squire in training, whose lack of magic is offset by his natural good sense. Nicholas solidly grounds his fantasy in medieval life, from high-court dinners to village feasts. At the same time, he unveils the uncanny beneath the surface as Molly and Nemain deal with the elemental powers that reside in field and forest to drive out the invaders. Series newcomers will quickly feel right at home, and returning readers will enjoy learning more about their favorite characters. Short, helpful glossaries of Irish and archaic English are included. Agent: George Hiltzik, N.S. Bienstock. (Apr.)